Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-02-08
JUDGE REAGAN.
Interesting Recollection of His Early
Political Days in Texas.
New York star.

Political Days in Texas.
New York star.
WASHINGTON, Feb. Judge Reagan's
success was due in large measure to
| the passage OF the interstate commerce
bill. He had a cordial following at the
outset, but he was late in announcing
himself, and his prospects at the time he
lett here for Texas were anything but
fattering. He himself fully realized the
true situation. He said to several OF his
friends, in taking leave of them, that it
would be q rare stroke of fortune
If he should succeed; that the relative
strength of the different candidates hard
ly warranted the expectation that his
candidacy could survive the combination
which in time would necessarily be made.
Still he had put out his head, and he
meant to take the consequences. The
passage Of the bill with which his maine
is so prominently identified invited, Of
course, attention to his influence in Con-
gress, and strengthened his hold on those
sections of his state which have been
asking for the relief that it is claimed will
be afforded by the bill.
The result was well received here.
Judge Reagan is personally a popular
man, and in legislative force and expert
ence is esteemed superior to the gentle
man he succeeds. 1t is not generally
known that Judge Reagan, who has been
in politics the greater part OF his life,
entered the arena much against mis- will,
and determined then to retire at the close
of his present congressional term. 1t was
in the year 1857 that he was first elected
to congress. He was by profession a
lawyer, and had recently been elected
q circuit Judge, when his party
friends, recognizing his hold upon the
people, called upon him in strait to
abandon the bench for politics. He was
reluctant to do so and, besides, his wife
was opposed to the proposition. She
was anxious that he advance his fortunes
strictly within the limits of his profession.
at last, however, he yielded to the press
ure, accepted the congressional nomina-
ton and was elected. He promised bis
wife and himself that at the close of his
term he would return to the law and seek
to recover his place upon the bench.
Before the term expired complications
arose out of spirit which was famed by
the eloquence of Mr.. Wigfall, calling for
the annexation of Mexico and Central
America. Judge Reagan, though inclined
at first to avoid the question because OF
his intention of quitting political life,
finally was forced to express himself, and
opposed the proposition. He did so with
3 good deal of emphasis, snd upon re-
turning home found himself prescribed
by both the press and the politicians.
Some of the abuse heaped upon him wss
of a most offensive character. He thought
it bad time to retire. His friends scout
ed the idea and told him he must run
again. He oyercsme his wife's opposition
to his remaining longer in politics by lay
ing before her number of newspaper
articles of violently personal character.
She read them with indignation, and at
the close said: "Well, Well go to the
people for vindication, and return to the
law little later" His wife's spirit en-
couraged the Judge, and he forthwith an
tnounced himself for reelection. The race
was the most exciting in the history of
Texas. The opposition massed its best
speakers in Judge Reagan's district, with